Damnation, but it seemed I also was paying a price. Even as I reveled in their deaths, I felt the nearness of that dark presence to me as well. It pressed close as a lover, caressing, seeping into my mind and heart, trying to persuade both to surrender to its embrace.
No, not this time. Not —
In one sickening wrench, my hold to a solid form was torn from me. For several panicked moments I feared I was dead. . truly dead, for I floated formless and free, drifting like a cloud.
Or a mist.
My addled thoughts sorted themselves, and I realized what had happened, that I'd abruptly changed form without consciously initiating it. I must have been very severely hurt indeed to bring about such a drastic alter- ation. Flowing over the singed floor, I sought out some cooler, more hospitable place in which to recover.
I found a spot deep within the cave that seemed safe enough and ventured to resume being myself again.Though my clothes were in less than respectable condition, my body was quite whole and healed. But I was still very shaken and had to sit on a convenient mound of rock or fall over. I needed rest, it seemed.
My inner sense of time informed me that the dawn was hardly more than an hour away. If I hurried, I could beat through the sky with the west wind adding to my speed and make Vallaki in time to reach my traveling box.
Oh, but it was hardly worth the effort. Tomorrow night would do just as well. Then would I return and take possession of my horses and coach and perhaps see how the girl was being treated. Then would I climb the devil's pass, as the Svalich Road is called on this side of Mount Ghakis, cross through the ancient Gates of Barovia, and finally wend my way to the peace and sanctuary of Castle Ravenloft.
As I grew calmer with these soothing plans, I noticed the thick stench of burned meat and fat oozing in on the disturbed air of the cavern. The bandits were all dead, of that I was sure. . if not by the fire, then by the wolves.
My work was finished. But at what price to me? I might have killed myself with this prank.
Careless, Strahd, careless. I thought, with dour chagrin. It's not the done thing to exterminate yourself along with the vermin, you know.
But they, at least, would trouble the land and people no more.
After all, Strahd von Zarovich looks after his own.